/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/P7J3NZEJNNL7DBBHKH4I6SI33I.jpg "Israeli Military Uncovers Evidence of Hostage Situation in Gaza Hospital")
[1/6]
Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari gestures as he stands in what he describes as living quarters used by Hamas militants in the basement of Rantissi Hospital, a paediatric hospital with a specialty in treating cancer patients, at a location given as Gaza, in this still image…
Acquire Licensing Rights
JERUSALEM, Nov 13 (Reuters) – The Israeli military shared video and photographs on Monday showing what it said were weapons stored by Hamas in the basement of a children’s hospital in Gaza where it also said hostages appear to have been held.
Military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said troops had found a command centre with an armoury of weapons including grenades, suicide vests and other explosives stored by Hamas fighters in the basement of Rantissi Hospital, a paediatric hospital with a specialty in treating cancer patients.
“And we also found signs that indicate that Hamas held hostages here,” he told a televised briefing. “This is currently under our investigation. But we also have intelligence that verifies it.”
He showed footage of what appeared to be rudimentary living quarters, including a small kitchen, as well as a nearby tunnel shaft which he said led to the house of a senior Hamas naval commander.
“Hamas took all this area under its control and conducted its war against Israelis from this hospital,” he said.
In addition, troops found a motorcycle with gunshot marks which he said appeared to have been used to bring hostages to Gaza after the surprise attack on Oct. 7 when Hamas gunmen stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and seizing around 240 captives, according to Israeli authorities.
